What a profile!

My wife has had the pleasure of writing her personal profile as one of the final pieces of work for her degree.  Like most students, she left it to the last minute to finish the work (like every other piece!) and was finding it hard, particularly after a few glasses of wine and it being close to midnight.  Anyway, she asked me to help. 

I have to say that whilst it was hard work, and somewhat frustrating, it made me realise that if applicants created their CV's in the same detailed manner there would be a lot less wasted time by everyone in the recruitment process.  Basically, the profile has to show initial weaknesses based on actual work placement assessments and how she had improved over the 3 years, again using hard, factual evidence provided as a result of subsequent work placements.  Furthermore, she had to go into some detail as to how the improvements had helped the work place/patient and what results had been achieved.

I know this sounds a bit like a competency based scenario and whilst it is similar, too often the CV is full of crap, over inflated and has no real evidence.

The CV will no doubt continue as it is and sales brochures, marketing e-mails, tender responses will still use quotes such as 'leading', 'world's best' etc.  I however will be taking a hard look at how I work, and what has or has not improved, evidence and actions.  Maybe I can take the same approach to business pitches!!